Child’s Play Fund Raising going strong here and elsewhere

The Child's Play drive is continuing strong both here at Ars Technica and …

Ben's been doing all the talking on the Child's Play front as of late, but now it's my turn to say that you guys have been doing an amazing job when it comes to raising money for this great cause. The Opposable Thumbs Child's Play Drive has now passed the $5,000 mark and the donations are continuing to pour in at an awe-inspiring rate. We asked you to dig deep, and a lot of you have: there's going to be some happy kids this holiday season, that's for sure.

We've still got our big personal prize pack borne from our personal video game collections to come, so keep those donations coming in. Ben has hinted at it, but I'm willing to be more forthcoming: some of the stuff in the big pack you simply will not be able to find easily or cheaply—if at all. My out-of-pocket contribution, in all its white, pearly, non-Nintendo-related glory, has left a stinging hole where my heart used to be, but it's for a good cause that I'm willing to make just such a sacrifice. Expect the final unveiling soon.

For those who haven't been following the Child's Play Charity run this year outside of our drive here, the Penny Arcade guys have voiced extreme satisfaction with this year's turnout thus far. The total donations were up to $600,000 prior to last night's Child's Play Gala Event, which managed to raise an incredible $225,000 more. The night's auction starred some incredible impromptu acts of generosity, as Bungie sweetened its offerings with the Bungie employee-exclusive, in-game Recon Armor suit for Halo3 and Valve dished out the desirable Portal-born Weighted Companion Cube as well as a tour of the office. "And the throng responded—fiscally," Tycho remarked.

It's been a great year for the charity, but that should come as no surprise. Tycho put it so: "That you can generate million dollars in just a couple months—on an annual basis—is now, to me, quite ordinary. You are incredible, and changing the world is easy for you. I should have understood that from the start."Keep the donations coming, everyone. Let's see if we can't make 2007 not only a memorable year for gaming, but an unforgettable year for giving.